Community Affairs Consultants

In my household here in Washington, DC, we have marked March 13, 2020, as the official start of the impact of COVID-19 upon our lives. It was on that fateful Friday back in 2020, and soon after the World Health Organization (WHO), on March 11, had declared the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic, that my two younger school-aged children - one at High School, the other at Middle School, were dismissed from their classes by District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) because of the pandemic. My older College Grad sons continued to tough it out in the world in their careers in New York and in Florida.

As of today, March 12, 2021, my sons are yet to actually sit in their respective 10th Grade and 8th Grade classes since being upended from their 9th and 7th Grade classes a-year-ago. School has been all virtual for a year and I'm glad to report that my sons have successfully adapted to the new norms of education as demonstrated by their continued As on their class subjects. Moreover, their tutoring of other students in both Math and Chinese have helped them cope with the needed changes both socially and emotionally.

We have been very fortunate and healthy that no relative thus far has become infected with COVID-19, thanks to our ability to stay and to work at home and to the following of scientific health guidelines meant to protect against and to limit the spread of the very deadly pathogen. In addition to an airline cancelled trip back to China, which we had planned for Summer 2020, my family has not been too terribly affectedz by COVID-19.

Yet, we emphatize with the over 118.7 million people worldwide infected by COVID-19 thus far, including our fellow 29.3 million Americans, and tragically, we weep for those killed by COVID-19 - 2.6 million globally, including a stark and sad 531,000 Americans. Back on March 13, 2020, global COVID-19 cases numbered 135,000 with 4,900 deaths. In the United States (US), infections stood at 1,700 and deaths at 40.

It has been a year of hell and suffering for too many people. Government mixed-messaging from the defeated Donald Trump administration from objections to wearing facial masks, to lockdowns and to objections of science - all, played a role in prolonging the COVID-19 disease and deaths across the US, while vaccines were fast tracked.

Today, now with a rational President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris at the helm of American hope and government, optimism is rising  that even amid new and more contagious variants of COVID-19, that the pandemic could finally be successfully mitigated in 2021. In other words, an end to living under COVID-19 could now be envisioned.

Concerns over personal, national and international health and security remain high on this First Day of March, 2021, the beginning of 'Meteorological Spring' - the transitional months between the coldest and the warmest months.

Cheerful and warming prospects to the bloom and lush of the sprouting season of Spring are blended with the reality of a still persisting, highly contagious and very deadly COVID-19 pandemic, which has thus far infected more than 114.2 million pople worldwide, while tragically killing more than 2.5 million victims. Newly developed and circulating vaccines to combat the Novel Coronavirus offer hope to turning the tide on the pesky pathogen, yet serious cautions abound per the discovery of new and more virulent variants of the disease.

And as if the pandemic singlehandedly has not exerted sufficient stresss and pressure upon the well being of humanity, then consider the presence of other big concerns standing before the security of humankind on this First Day of March, 2021.

Raw attacks upon democracy are current, especially in Myanmar, where a military coup on February 1, 2021, has turned back the tables of progress toward democracy by the Burmese people. Also, a second attack upon American democracy - the like witnessed on January 6, 2021, remains a probable danger due to the agitations and lies of a defeated former president and his disillusioned followers of conspiracy theories. As long as Donald Trump remains free, narcissistic and influential to too many marginalized followers, democracy in the United States (US) faces a real threat based on the actions of Trump. And with regards to Myanmar, every continuous hour that the military remains in power represents a blow to democracy.

War, rumors of war, other actions against humanity and agitations remain ripe today in Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Libya, Venezuela, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, North Korea, Mali, Somalia, the Balkans, Egypt, Israel, Iran and China's Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, among other places. Saudi Arabia must still be held accountable for the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. These unsettled matters demand attention.

Moreover, the absence of a mutually agreed trade deal between the world's two largest economic powers - the US and China, poses uncertainty to the economic health of the globe in general. 

Rational global leadership from the new US President Joe Biden, working with allies the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU) and Canada, along with cooperation from other nations, including China, with concerted efforts, stand very well equipped to accomplish much toward a meaningful global health and security amid the greening of Spring 2021.

Very sadly, the recorded deaths from COVID-19 in the United States (US) have now surpassed half-a-million victims. We grieve and we remember the victims for each and everyone of them was a person, a life - someone's parent, spouse, child, grandparent, relative, friend, partner, associate and acquaintance, all taken too soon.

As global infections from SARS-CoV-2 total more than 12.3 million people and with deaths at 2.5 million, humanity places great hope in the developed and circulating vaccines to help mitigate the pesky invisible killer. In the US, a new recognition of the graveness of the disease from a new administration under President Joe Biden, has pushed hopes very high that in spite of the grim milestone in number of victims, much is finally being done to rein in the highly contagious COVID-19.

Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, DC, earlier today, respectfully issued a Proclamation to Proclaim February 24, 2021 as "A Day Of Remembrance For Lives Lost To COVID-19" and she called "on all Washingtonians to pause and remember more than 1,000 neighbors, family, and friends whose lives were lost to the virus."

Hence, we pause, we grieve and we remember all the victims of COVID-19 worldwide. May they all travel well.

Too often, good governments, following their election by the people with a clear mandate to act upon immediate pressing issues, become mired in time-wasting back-and-forths with opposition parties in futile attempts to attain bi-partisianship, something that seldom happens. Useful time lapses, support wanes and new governments that stay such a path for too long praying for conciliatory nods, soon start to encounter the wrath of the people who voted for them, while not gaining any allies among those who stand in opposition.

President Joe Biden's new administration in Washington, DC, in my opinion, stands in such a predicament.

Biden's sincere election hope for wanting to promote bi-partianship with the defeated Donald Trump's party now threatens to impede America's immediate thrust out of the doldrums both at home and internationally. The attitudes of too many Republicans in Congress continue to be the same as the defeated Trump as have been bourne by the outcome of Trump's Senate impeachment trial and negotiations of a proposed $1.9 trillion economic stimulus legislation. Many Republicans have not budged from their Trump-era stances of self and party over Republic and international influence.

Democrats and President Biden should immediately proceed to demonstarte that America is back as a leader and as a stalwart of democracy at home and abroad. Although rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement has indicated a strong American intent back to global leaderrship, it is not sufficient.

Therefore, two needed actions to resoundingly announce the return of the rational might and power of the United States (US) are: first; domestically pass the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus that many state and local governments, small businesses and people are anticipating to ease the impact of COVID-19; second; internationally lead an immediate strong effort to return democracy to the people of Myanmar.

With the second unprecedented trial of a twice-impeached Donald Trump now over and with the political acquittal of the former poresident, the new President, Joe Biden, and his new administration, in Washington, DC, should now at Godspeed move forward to the full and quick recovery of democracy in America and abroad.

That 57 of 100 Senators in the Congress voted to convict Trump for enciting the violent insurrection upon the United States (US) Capitol, January 6, 2021, and although the number was short of the 67 two-thirds majority needed to convict Trump, the 57 Senators were successful in forver etching into the annuals of time a simple majority blame and responsibility unto Donald Trump for the violent insurrection upon the hallowed house of the people - the National Legislature, the Congress.

Recovering democracy in America could witness the assigning of other means of inquiries and findings to ensuring there is no impunity to the deliberate assault upon the institutions of the people, the Republic and democracy in general. Moreover, democratic recovery in the US could also witness greater efforts to defeating the COVID-19 pandemic and the saving of many American lives, along with a final roll out and successful passage of the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus legislation needed to greenlight America's economy and to provide relief to its people.

And internationally, one of the actions to affirming the recovery of democracy could entail actions to promote the return to democracy in Myanmar in light of the military coup, which threatens to set back the progress accomplished by the Buremese people in recent years.

The High Office of President of the United States (US) comes with a 'bully pulpit', the wide opportuinity to speak out on any issue. As a result, presidents have historically used the presidency as a 'bully pulpit' to "bring out the best in civic life".

That was before the tumultuous tenure of Donald Trump, who, specifically, in the days, weeks and months after the 2020 Presidential Election, which he lost, used the 'bully pulpit' to cast, to bestow and to promote doubt of the integrity of the function and functioning of the US Federal Government as well as State governments. 

Trump's intensified anti-government rhetoric, even against a government which he led, after his defeat by President Joe Biden, followed months of baseless claims against the US voting system as Trump and some Republicans - foreseeing his inevitable defeat at the polls, tried to disenfranchise millions of voters by objecting to mailed-in ballots and ease of access to voting places.

Inciting chants from Trump to his supporters to "stop the steal" and to "stand by" were echoed from the 'bully pulpit' before January 6, 2021. The often repeated utterances from Trump demonstrated the control he exerted over his followers from rally to rally. The 'bully pulpit' was in full operation and because of its broad spectrum of influence from the High Office of President, messages via the medium have a different code of standard per provoking action than other forms of speech. The 'bully pulpit' need not say "do this now", but by emphasizing and inviting even non specific messaging, the 'bully pulpit' stands guilty of all effects from the causes it has championed.

So on the fateful day of January 6, 2021, when domestic terrorists and supporters of Donald Trump attacked the US Capitol after being called to Washington, D.C. by then President Trump, who admonished them in speech to go to the Capitol, it is more than sufficient to hold Donald Trump responsible for the destruction completed by the group. Donald Trump stands guilty of all the results of the actions undertaken by the violent mob.

Trump, via the 'bully pulpit', forced Americans to daily live under his absurdities of voter fraud and alleged flawed elections results. Americans lived the evidence of Trump's incitation to insurrection. Therefore, the Republic and history must judge Trump guilty of assault on the National Legislature and upon American government and upon democracy as a whole.

In lieu of any admittance from Donald Trump to accepting and admitting responsibility for the seditious assault and insurrection upon the Legislature of the United States (US), January 6, 2021, then it is fitting that Congress, thus having the authority, explicitly assigns accountability for the violent attack on democracy to the former president.

Today's second impeachment trial of Donald Trump - he being the first US President to be twice impeached, is an exercise of a political process to duly assign accountability and responsibility for the violent insurrection upon the US Capitol, which resulted in deaths, desecration of the hallowed people's house: to wit the United States Congress, and a global spectacle of an unprecedented attack upon American democracy. That Trump incited the crowd of his supporters whom he addressed before the violent event, is clearly self evident. 

However, even as some witnesses and some victims of the violent attack, many Republicans appear not inclined to hold Trump responsible for the insurrection. So the raucous former president might not be found guilty at his trial before the Senate because not enough Republicans are willing to place Republic over party in joining Democrats to convict Trump for the seditious act upon the Capitol.

But via Trump's Senate trial, history will duly take note to forever etch into the annuals of time the flawed and dangerous actions of a former president and the damage he has done to American democracy and to democracy as a whole. Today's trial of Donald Trump comes from the importance for needed accountability for violent actions against people, the American people.

[Note that my recent inactive period of not posting a Blog has been willful as a time to exhale and to project forward following four tumultuous years of American affairs under Donald Trump. I've quitely celebrated the nervous survival of democracy in America.]

Joe Biden has successfully started his term as President of the United States (US) and Kamala Harris as Vice-President.

Washington, District of Columbia - my hometown and location of the White House, in spite of a Donald Trump incited insurrection upon the US Capitol, on January 6, 2021, and amid the persistent presence of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and an unprecedented security deployment of national guard troops, fences and barricades, remains a city of high hopes and optimism over the new Biden presidency as we continue to still celebrate the long-sought departure of Trump.

The now iced-over snow that fell over the city on Sunday has been a welcoming event for locals and newcomers alike and indicative of another good change in Washington, DC, after more than 700-plus days without any measureable snowfall.

Washingtonians, the new German Shepherd pets at the White House and the pandas at the National Zoo, all came out yesterday to celebrate the agitation-insulating snow while affirming patient observance and hope over the new rational Biden-Harris administration in Washington, DC.

United States (US) President Joe Biden with less than one-week in the Executive role, and his new administration, face an arduous task to getting America back on track in the aftermath of Donald Trump's scarring tenure in the White House.

Trump has left a mess of crises for the Biden admionistration, including an "uncivil war", a planless deadly pandemic and its debilitating health and economic impacts along with spats with international allies and a trade war with China. Complexing the efforts of the new administration to deal with all the issues have been the blatant slow and at times non-existent cooperation from the Trump group to extend the necessary means to a smooth transition to the Biden government.

That Trump for far too long derelicted many presidential duties prior to leaving office resulting in no plans on SARS-CoV-2 has surely forced upon the new administration a desperate need to develop, roll out and execute a viable plan to vaccinate 100-million Americans for COVID-19 in the next 100-days. This alone is evidence underscoring the arduous responsibilities facing the new Washington, DC, administration. Moreover, upon the confession from the Trump administration in its final days that there were no stockpiled reserves of the COVID-19 vaccine, again adds to the arduous task facing the new Biden administration.

Economic concerns, threats from domestic terrorists, racial inequality, immigration issues, re-engaging in a Trump isolated world and other national and international agitations also await the new Biden administration. 

While many supporters of Biden and his administration are willing to remain patient for action on issues they view as top priority, they also appear to caution the new President that a progressive agenda should not be traded for any long unsure hopes for bipartianship with Trump's defeated party.

It is crucial for the advancement of American national and international integrity that the new United States (US) administration accomplishes early significant legislative victories.

After four-years of decline marred in hate and division under the infant-like leadership of Donald Trump, it now becomes necessary for the US to throw-off all the mis-steps of the last four-years in deference for a successful start by the Democrat President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Therefore, having control of both chambers (House of Representatives and Senate) of the US Congress, Democrats should not allow extending an olive branch to Republicans to impede or delay needed meaningful legislation. In the 50-50 Senate with Democrats having the nod with Vice-President Harris as tie-breaker, Democratic leaders should not become bogged down in lengthy power-sharing talks as the first days of the Biden Presidency roll on. Moreover, Democrats should not accept as sufficient President Biden's first-day flury of Executive Orders done to return immediate respect to the Republic.

While the Executive Orders were desperately needed, the first weeks of this crises-inherited administration need to be supported with needed legislation to deal with the still exploding COVID-19 pandemic that could claim half-a-million American lives by mid-February and all the economic and social impacts due to the Novel Coronavirus. 

If Republicans really care about getting and accepting an olive-branch from Democrats, then they could demonstrate their bi-partisanship by supporting the Biden proposed $1.9 trillion economic relief plan that would start States, families and small business back to economic viability. Procedural and party impediments must be removed to allow for effection governance amid multiple crises.